FAQs (and some not so
often asked questions)About Epoxy

I want to thank all of the
people who have submitted questions to me. Without you this
section would not exist. I have left off individual credits to be
sure that we do not reveal any information here that might be
embarrassing or damaging to you. If you would like credit for
your specific question, please email me and
ask to be given credit for your question. I will be very happy to
do that for you. Once again, thank you for your questions.

There are references in many of
the answers to specific product prices. Please note that was the
price at the time the question was asked. It may very well still
be the price today, but it could have gone up or down. Increases
in raw material prices will drive prices up. However, increases
of our use of these raw materials sometimes (although not often
enough) have the effect of driving down our costs. When this
happens, we will pass this savings onto our customers. Bottom
line: if you are interested in a specific product please email me for
the current pricing on that material.

If you have questions, or
answers that you would like to see added to this page, please
email them to me at:
norm@epoxy.com. I hope you enjoy this and I look forward to your
questions and comments.

Epoxy
Injection has the advantage of welding the concrete back together, and giving
the concrete back its original design properties.In other words, once you inject a crack, it is as if the crack had never
happened. Its repair is structural and a waterproofing.

Urethane does not weld the concrete back together.It does stop the leak however. As a matter of fact, it has the capacity
to stop the leak as the water is still flowing through it.This is possible with epoxy, but is much more complicated, and difficult
to do.

I use epoxy injection whenever I am trying to restore a damaged structure.If I am trying to cut off water flowing through an expansion joint, or
where concrete has been poured in multiple pours and never intended to be
monolithic, then I use urethane.

For
most basements, epoxy injection is the best solution for cracks in the walls or
floors.It you are injecting the
joint between the floor and the wall, either system can be used effectively.

Norm!

Used in fine
Pebble Constructed Products

Question: "We
manufacture trash containers, planters, etc. from a fine pebble
or sand aggregate and a resin binder. The present process calls
for mixing the binder and catalyst in a bucket, then pouring the
mixture into a cement mixer with the aggregate. Each batch makes
one unit of the product. As you can guess this process is slow
and has problems with consistent quality. Does someone make
equipment that would mix the components continuously and extrude
the mix similar to the way that fiber glass guns mix the binder
with the catalyst, chop the fiber, mix the whole thing and shoot
the "wet fibers" in one continuous process?"

Norm:
Not that I am aware of. The problem is not the
mixing of the resins. We can provide mixing on "the go"
for your right now. The problem is that you still have to mix the
aggregate. It would be impossible to mix a stone with the currently
available hydrostatic mix heads.

However, talk to me about the inconsistencies that you are
experiencing. You might want to be sure that the problem is in
the mixing, not in the resin or aggregate. I think it is possible
that it could be a material problem.

Paper:

Question: "Can you
tell me anything about the use of epoxy resin in the manufacture
of paper?"

Norm: In the
manufacturing of paper, or in the maintaining of the paper
plants? I can help you with the latter. I didn't even know
epoxies were used in the manufacture of paper. Please tell me
more!

MANUFACTURING LAPIDARY

Question: "I
AM A MANUFACTURING LAPIDARY LOOKING FOR A VERY LOW VISCOSITY
EPOXY TYPE SEALER TO PENETRATE CRACKS IN ROCKS TO SEAL THEM AND
STABILIZE OTHERWISE FRACTURED MATERIAL BEFORE THEY ARE CUT AND
POLISHED. CAN YOU OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS?"

Norm: I would need additional details to make
a good recommendation, but my initial recommendations are our
product #3 or its 2:1 counterparts in our 817 & 818 series
injection resins. You can find a data sheet on #3 attached to
this document in HTML format, or online at http://www.epoxysystems.com/3.htm
.

Epoxy
- Used in Construction

Question: "Read through your epoxy page
and I need to pick your brain. I am a builder. I completed a
house a few years ago with a door exiting the basement. When I
installed the door, I caulked the door well I thought, but now
when it rains hard the water is getting in. On the outside of the
door is a slab that might not have enough run at that area. What
I was wondering, is if I drilled some holes in the threshold and
filled that area with some sort of epoxy, would it work. I have
done some aquarium work with epoxy injection which is where I got
the idea. Short of any brilliant idea's from someone, I will have
to pull the door, and possibly cut some of the concrete. Any help
would be much appreciated."

Norm: So let me see if
I understand this exactly . . . When it rains hard there is not
enough slope on the concrete on the outside of the door, so the
rain backs under the threshold. What you would like to do is to
pour some epoxy under the threshold in hopes that it would seal
the threshold to the concrete slab with a waterproof seal. Is
that right?

If it is, it is possible
if the concrete under the threshold is clean and has not had a
sealer installed on it. You could use our Product #18 (please see
http://www.epoxysystems.com/18.htm) in a
BinPacks (binary packaging - self mixing) to pump under the
threshold. On the other hand you save the $145 cost of the gun to
use the BinPacks if you remove the threshold, fill in under it
with Product #5 (http://www.epoxysystems.com/5.htm).
This will allow you to clean the concrete below the threshold,
and even raise the threshold slightly if required. This material
comes in a thick paste almost the consistency of roofing cement.
Both products bond to the concrete with a bond strength greater
that the concrete (tensile) strength, and set up harder than
concrete (compressive strength).

Basement Waterproofing

Question: "We are in the process of
purchasing a home and inspections reveal a crack in the
foundation. I found your information on the Internet as I have
not been able to find anyone in the Houston area who does this
type of repair. We have contacted a structural engineer who has
informed us the slab needs to be elevated on one side, plus the
crack needs to be sealed with epoxy. The prior owners in their
infinite wisdom, put tile down on top of the crack and had the
tile company put epoxy on the crack. (I somehow think this is not
what the structural engineer had in mind.) Let me know what you
think. Also, do you know of a Company who does the repair in this
area. We have contacted a Foundation repair company, and they
have no connections with anyone doing resin repair. I certainly
would appreciate any help you may be able to give me at this
time."

Norm: We can supply both product and
technical support to your foundation contractor. What your
engineer must have meant is epoxy injection. Please see:
http://www.EpoxySystems.com/injectn.htm for more information on
epoxy injection. Then please get back to me with your additional
questions.

Question: "I am in the process of
building a pond. Most Pond Building books recommend to seal the
concrete pond with black epoxy. Unfortunately I have been unable
to find any such epoxy this far."

Norm: I suggest our product #1 in black. I
have attached a copy of the tech data sheet in HTML format or you
can find the data sheet at: http://www.epoxysystems.com/1.htm.
The cost is $49 per gallon US in 3 gallon units 2A:1B. Price is
FOB our plant. You can save a few dollars per gallon if you need
15 gallons or more by ordering in 15 gallons (5 gallon pail units
(2 each 5 gallons of "A": 1 each 5 gallons of
"B"). Please check out these data sheets and get back
to me with your additional questions.

Dams - Penstocks

Question: "We are, now, working on a dam
for the fabrication and installation of the power tunnels steel
penstocks. To allow to concrete the gap between the steel
penstocks and the tunnels, some holes will be done on the
penstocks to fit the concrete injection tools. These a.m. holes
will be plugged (after concrete injection works) with steel grout
plugs and epoxy glue and will be
filled flush with the inside face of the penstocks with epoxy
mortar. Could you, please, let us know if some of your products
are made for such works? Being at your disposal for any other
information, you may need."

Question: "I am looking for an epoxy to
construct wooden Sea Kayaks. What do you recommend? Also have
done some cast concrete kitchen and bath counter tops, and have
had problems finding a suitable sealer. Have tried some epoxies
from local San Francisco suppliers without Stellar results."

Norm: Tell me more: Are you just trying to
seal the counter tops with something clear? If so for a sealer I
would recommend our product #850, a tech data sheet in HTML
format is attached. You can also find it online at:
http:/www.epoxysystems.com/850.htm. It is an outstanding sealer
that sets up very hard. It costs 21.35 per gallon in 2 gallon
units (1A:1B), or $19.65 per gallon in 10 gallon units (5A:5B).
Price is in US dollars and is FOB our plant. It cannot be sent
UPS. It must be sent by truck, so most people order at least a
10-gallon unit so the freight doesn't kill them. This is an
excellent product at an excellent price. You will find nothing
better in this price range. I need more info on the Kayak but I
think you would like our product #18 ( http://www.epoxysystems.com/18.htm
- I have attached that as well). If you want something easier to
apply, you might like Product #1 ( http://www.epoxysystems.com/1.htm
- Also attached). However to make a good recommendation on your
Kayak application I need more details about what you want to do
with the epoxy.

Epoxy
Refractive Index

Question:
"I have recently bought to the firm AOA a lens let
array made of epoxy. I would like to have the refractive index of
this material as a
function of wavelength. Unfortunately, they told me that they
have no exact information concerning that from their epoxy
supplier. I have only 4 values measured. Do you know where I can
find this kind of information? "

Norm:: I have to admit
that in 20 years in this business this is the first time anyone
has asked me that question. It is an excellent question, to which
I have no answer. Not too many people need that kind of
information. I would guess that it would vary from epoxy to
epoxy, and vary again by the hardener used. So I suspect there
are as many answers to your question, as there are epoxies. So
unless a company makes an epoxy specifically for optical
applications, I am not sure there is an answer.

Each epoxy has a slightly different color and I think that
will affect your index. I am not sure of this as it is out of my
field, but I will add it to a new FAQ page that I will be adding
to my web area soon. Perhaps someone will reply to it there.

Bond

Bonding to Plastic

Question:I
would like to know if your product sticks to plastics. I am most
interested if it sticks to the oilifinic family of plastics (PE,
PP, TPO).

Proper mixing and installation is critical to the
optimal success of all product. See
Installation Tips,Techdata,
& MSDS for more details on our
products. Be sure to contact us with any questions and/or concerns
that you have.

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whether this product is suitable for application. No warranty or
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